The Blue Zone pavilion at COP30 in Belém was evacuated after a fire broke out; organizers say the blaze was brought under control within six minutes and caused only limited damage. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, and there were no serious injuries. Authorities have closed the affected area while local fire services conduct safety inspections and investigate a suspected generator failure or short circuit. The incident follows recent UN warnings about safety standards at the summit.
Fire Forces Evacuation of COP30 Blue Zone Pavilion in Belém — 13 Treated, Cause Under Investigation
The Blue Zone pavilion at COP30 in Belém was evacuated after a fire broke out; organizers say the blaze was brought under control within six minutes and caused only limited damage. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, and there were no serious injuries. Authorities have closed the affected area while local fire services conduct safety inspections and investigate a suspected generator failure or short circuit. The incident follows recent UN warnings about safety standards at the summit.
03:51 AM, 11/21/2025Environment
Delegates and accredited personnel at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) were evacuated from a Blue Zone pavilion in Belém after a fire broke out at the venue on Thursday.
Brazil’s Tourism Minister, Celso Sabino, said there were no serious injuries and sought to downplay the incident. “There was a small fire here, which is possible at any large event,” he told reporters, adding that such incidents “could happen anywhere on planet Earth.”
Organizers reported that the evacuation was rapid and that firefighters brought the flames under control within six minutes, limiting damage to the pavilion. A joint statement from COP30 leadership and the UN said thirteen people received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Area Closed for Safety Checks
Officials said the Blue Zone— the restricted area for negotiators and accredited media—would remain closed while local fire services conducted full safety inspections. Authorities indicated the affected section would likely stay closed until 8 p.m. local time (23:00 GMT) while investigators assess the scene and confirm the cause.
Possible Cause and Local Response
Helder Barbalho, governor of Pará state where the summit is taking place, said investigators suspect a generator failure or a short circuit may have sparked the blaze. He also reassured the public that other parts of the COP30 site, including the Green Zone open to the public, were operating normally.
“We will find out what caused it, whether we can restart work here in the Blue Zone today or not,” the governor wrote on social media.
Eyewitness Account
Fernando Ralfer Oliveira, an independent journalist who was inside the Blue Zone, described scenes of panic as people hurried toward the exits. “I was in the big corridor that leads to the meeting rooms when a commotion of people started running. I had my phone in my hand and immediately started recording,” he said. Security staff directed evacuees to the conference food court outside the affected pavilion.
Broader Context
The incident comes a week after the UN raised safety concerns about COP30 facilities. On November 13, UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell wrote to Brazilian authorities noting several issues, including faulty doors and water leaks near lighting fixtures. The Brazilian government issued a statement saying it had addressed UN requests, including repositioning and expanding security forces between the Blue and Green Zones.
Investigators will continue to examine the pavilion to determine the definitive cause of the fire. Organizers and local authorities said they would provide further updates as inspections conclude and safety is confirmed.